Ignition system using plural starting switches



June 29, 1965 R. J. LANGLOIS 3, ,395.

IGNITION SYSTEM USING PLURAL STARTING SWITCHES Filed Oct. 11, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 1 YZLLOW June 29, 1965 R. J. LANGLOIS 3, ,3

IGNITION SYSTEM USING PLURAL STARTING SWITCHES Filed 001;. 11, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 y ELLOW /&'

June-29, 1965 I R. J. LANGLOIS 3,192,395

IGNITION SYSTEM USING PLURAL STARTING SWITCHES Filed Oct. 11. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 3 3nventor United States Patent 3,192,395 IGNITION SYSTEMUSING PLURAL STARTING SWITCHES Russell J. Langlois, 697 Lafayette Ave.,Uniondale, N.Y. Filed on. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 147,395 2 Claims. (Cl. 307)This invention relates to ignition systems and more particularly tomeans by which a motor-vehicle ignition system must first be preparedfor use before the usual starterand-ignition switch may be operated tostart the motor and by which the motor may be started independently ofthe usual starter-and-ignition switch.

The invention (although capable of other uses) has, therefore, for aprimary object to provide a device to be connected with or cut into theignition circuit of a motor-vehicle ignition system with the capacity toclose its portion of the ignition circuit before the usualstarterand-ignition switch can be operated to start the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device with thecapacity to start the motor independently of the usualstarter-and-ignition switch;

A further object of the invention is to provide, as a separate articleof manufacture, a unit adapted to be connected with or cut into theignition circuit of a motorvehicle ignition system with the capacity forpreparing the ignition system for a motor start by the usualstarter-andignition switch and the capacity to start the motorindependently of this switch.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will best be understoodfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereofillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram of a motor-vehicle ignition system embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the device of the invention, the view being avertical section taken substantially on the line 2- -2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG.2;

FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive are diagrams showing successive steps in theoperation of the starter-and-ignition switch of the device as itcooperates with and as it is operated independently of the conventionalswitch;

' FIGS. 8 and 9 are wiring diagrams of the primary and secondaryignition circuits respectively; V

FIG. 10 shows the device applied to the ignition sys. tem of afront-engine vehicle; and

FIG. 11 shows the device applied to the ignition system of a rear-enginevehicle.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in FIG. 1, at 20 is indicated thebattery which is grounded at 21. At S is the usual normally-openkey-operated starter-and-ignition switch which is mounted on theinstrument panel 65 of the vehicle (see FIG. 10). The switch S is of theusual well known construction having terminals 2,73, 4 and 5. The switchS is operated by a key 6. At 22 is the ignition coil which comprisesprimary and secondary windings Band 24 respectively. At 25 is thecircuit breaker and at 26 the distributor. At 27 is the starter'motorand at 28 is indicated the usual solenoid switch, the coil of thesolenoid being grounded at 29. At 30 is the generator which is groundedat 31. At 32 is the generator regulator.

All of the above designated ignition units or components are well knownfrom long usage in the ignition art and form no part of the presentinvention except in so far as they co-operate therewith to produce thedesired results.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown two sectional views ofthe device embodying the present invention. This device indicated at D(see also FIGS. 1, 10 and 11) includes a normally-open key-operatedstarterand-ignition switch 3 (see also FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive) and apilot light 41) which is connected therewith and lighted thereby toindicate a closed circuit whenever this switch is operated. 1

These components are mounted in a casing 41 which is located in themotor compartment 42 of a front-engine car (FIG. 10) or in the motorcompartment 42' of a rearengine car (FIG. 11) in accordance with onefeature of the invention to be hereinafter described. The casing 41 ispreferably secured to the fire wall of either type car by screws 43.

The switch S comprises a triangular current-conducting switch element 7which is provided with three contact points one of which is clearlyindicated in FIG. 2. The switch element 7 is carried by a rotatablemember 8, upon which it is slidably mounted (see particularly FIGS. 2and 3). The member 8 and consequently the switch element 7 are rotatedby a key 9 through a key member 10. At 11 is indicated a fixednon-conducting switch element in which are embedded switch terminals 12,13, 14 and 15. The contact points of the switch element 7 are adapted tobe rotated in the path of said terminals and are pressed against theswitch element 11, and consequently against the terminals 12, 13, 14 and15, by a spring 45 (FIG. 2).

Connected with the switch terminals 12, 13, 14 and 15 are conductors orwires 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively. For convenience and a clearerunderstanding of the wiring arrangement the conductors 16, 17, 18 and 19are further designated by the follow-inscriptions: yellow, red, blackand blue respectively These conductors are of predetermined variablelengths sufiicient to reach the ignition units or-junction points in theignition wiring with which they are intended to be connected. The pilotlight 40 is connected by a wire 46 with the switch terminal 15 and isgrounded by a wire 47 to the casing 41.

Returning to FIG. 1, the connection of the wires 16, 17, 18 and 19 ofthe starting-and-ignition switch S to the conventional type ignitionsystem shown in this figure of the drawings will now be described. Theyellow wire 16 is connected with the wire 53 coming from the terminal 4of the switches S the red wire 17 is connected with the terminal of thegenerator regulator 32; the black wire 18 is connected with the solenoidswitch 28; and the blue wire 15 is connected with the primary winding 23of the ignition coil 22.

The present invention thus provides two interconnected ignition circuitscomprising a primary ignition circuit in which both starter-and-ignitionswitches S and S are involved (see particularly FIG. 8) and a secondaryignition circuit in which the'starter-and-ignition switch S is involved(see particularly FIG. 9).

When the motor is to be started from the instrument panel of the vehiclethe key 9 is first inserted in the switch S of the primary ignitioncircuit and turned in a counterclockwise direction to rotate its switchelement 7 from the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 to the positionshown in FIGS. 5 and 8. This connects the yellow wire 16with the bluewire 19 to close the portion of the ignition circuit that is directlyassociated with the switch S The switch S is then operated in the usualmanner by turning its key 6 in a clockwise direction to a first positionshown in P16. 8 to close its portion of the ignition circuit. Thiscompletely closes the primary ignition circuit (see particularly FIG. 8)and permits the current from the batary ignition circuit (seeparticularly FIG. 9).

areaaes arranged in series in the primary ignition circuit in accordancewith one feature of the present invention.

The key 6 of the switch 8 is then advanced to a second position to startthe motor. This permits the current from the battery 20 to flow throughwire 50, solenoid switch 28, wire 52, switch S wire 82, wire 81 and wire51 to operate the starter motor 27 in the usual manner. Thereafter whenthe key 6 is released it will be returned automatically in well knownmanner to its first position to keep the motor running.

When the circuit breaker 25 disrupts the current a high tension currentis induced in the secondary winding 24 of the coil 22 and fed throughwire 60 to the distributor 26 and from there in proper sequence to thespark plugs 61 of the motor M.

When the driver leaves the vehicle the key 6 of the switch S is turnedback to the position shown in FIG. 1 to stop the motor after which thekey 6 is removed from this switch. The key 9 of the switch S is thenturned back to the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and removed fromthis switch. The driver may, in addition, lock the doors of the vehicle.

" The above described construction and arrangement of an ignition systemembodying the present invention prevents, or at least tends to prevent,the theft of a vehicle in which it is installed. Anyone attempting tosteal the vehicle would first have to break into the car and then try tostart the motor from the instrument panel with a duplicate key or by theuse of a so-called jumper wire to bypass the starter-and-ignition switchcustomarily used for this purpose. These attempts of course would failbecause of the necessity of first operating the starter-andignitionswitch S to close its portion of the primary ignition circuit.

When the motor is to be started by the switch S the key 9 is inserted inthis switch and turned in a clockwise direction from the position shownin FIGS. 1 and 4 to a first position shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 to close thesecond- This permits the current from the battery 20 to flow throughwire 50, solenoid switch 28, wire 81, red wire 17, switch element 7 ofthe switch S blue wire 19, primary winding 23 of the coil 22, wire 48,circuit breaker 25 and to the ground at 54. This lights the pilot light40 and puts the ignition system in condition for a motor start by theswitch S from the motor compartment of the vehicle.

The key 9 is then advanced to a second position to start the motor. Thispermits the current from the battery 20 to How through the wire 50,solenoid switch 28, black wire 18, switch element 7 of the switch S redwire 17, wire 81, and wire 51 to operate the starter motor 27.Thereafter when the key 9 is released it will be returned automaticallyin well known manner to its first position to keep the motor running.

The provision of a starter-and-ignition switch (the switch S in themotor compartment of a vehicle is particularly advantageous to a personwho is servicing the motor and the ignition or other units associatedtherewith. To have such a switch withinreach, and capable of independentoperation, eliminates the necessity of going to and from the instrumentpanel to start and stop the motor or of requiring the assistance of ahelper for that purpose which has heretofore been the case.

FIG. 10 shows my device mounted in the motor compartment 42 of afront-engine vehicle, the device D being secured to the front side ofthe fire wall 44.

FIG. 11 shows my device mounted in the motor compartment 42' of arear-engine vehicle, the device D being secured to the rear side of thefire wall 44. In this type or" vehicle the lid or cover of the motorcompartment 42 is generally locked as indicated at 71 by a key 72.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the presentinvention, in co-operation with a conventional or other type ignitionsystem, provides two ignition circuits, herein designated a primaryignition circuit and a secondary ignition circuit, which areinterconnected and thus used conjointly in the operation of the ignitionsystem.

The invention further provides two starter-and-igni t ion switches (Sand S both of which are included iii the primary ignition circuit (FIG.8) and one of which (the switch S is included in the secondary ignitioncircuit (FIG. 9);

Furthermore both starter-and-ignition switches S and S must be operatedto close the primary ignition circuit as shown in FIG. 8 to permit themotor to be started by the switch S while the switch S may be operatedindependently to close the secondary ignition circuit as shown in FIG. 9to permit the motor to be started by the switch S I claim:

1. In a motor-vehicle ignition system, in combination, ignitioncomponents including a battery, a solenoid switch, a transformer coil, acircuit breaker, a distributor and a starter motor; a main ignitioncircuit including said components; a mainkey-operatedstarter-and-ignition switch by which said main circuit is controlled; asecond ignition circuit including said components and by-passing saidmain switch; and a second key-operated starter-and-ignition switch whichmay be operated to break said main circuit and by which said secondcircuit may be rendered operative independently of said main switch.

2. In a motor-vehicle ignition system, in combination, ignitioncomponents including a battery, a solenoid switch, a transformer coil, acircuit breaker, a distributor and a starter mtoor; a main ignitioncircuit including said components; a main key-operated starter-andignition switch by which said main circuit is controlled; a secondstarterand-ignition switch comprising a fixed element, four terminalscarried by said fixed element, and a co-operating key-operated rotatableelement which is provided with three contact points that are adapted tobe rotated in the path of said terminals to connect the latter elementwith diiferent combinations of said terminals; and conductors connectingsaid terminals with said main circuit to establish a second ignitioncircuit which by-passes said main switch, said second ignition switchbeing associated with both of said circuits to be adapted to be operatedto makeand-break said main circuitand to render said second circuitoperative independently of said main switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LLOYD MCCOLLUM,Primary Examiner. WALTER STOLWEIN, Examiner.

1. IN A MOTOR-VEHICLE IGNITION SYSTEM, IN COMBINATION, IGNITIONCOMPONENTS INCLUDING A BATTERY, A SOLENOID SWITCH, A TRANSFORMER COIL, ACIRCUIT BREAKER, A DISTRIBUTOR AND A STARTER MOTOR; A MAIN IGNITIONCIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID COMPONENTS; A MAIN KEY-OPERATEDSTARTER-AND-IGNITION SWITCH BY WHICH SAID MAIN CIRCUIT IS CONTROLLED; ASECOND IGNITION CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID COMPONENTS AND BY-PASSING SAIDMAIN SWITCH; AND A SECOND KEY-OPERATED STARTER-AND-IGNITION SWITCH WHICHMAY BE OPERATED TO BREAK SAID MAIN CIRCUIT AND BY WHICH SAID SECONDCIRCUIT MAY BE RENDERED OPERATIVE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID MAIN SWITCH.